Abstract:

Background: Adequate utilization of antenatal health care services is associated with improved maternal and neonatal health outcomes. The World Health Organization recommends pregnant women to attend antenatal care services as early as in the first trimester. Focus antenatal clinic recommends at least first booking to be before gestation age of 16 weeks. However, many women due to various reasons fail to meet the recommendations. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and factors associated with late antenatal booking among pregnant women at Temeke district hospital.

Methods: Data was collected from pregnant women attending antenatal clinic at Temeke district hospital, this was from mid-October to late November. A standardized questionnaire was used to obtain participants demographic characteristics and obstetrics history. Data analysis was done using (SPSS) and relationship between outcome variable and exposure variable was done using Chi-square test.

Results: A total of 320 participants were involved in the study. Out of these, 64 (20%) participants booked late for antenatal care (ANC) services. This was much contributed by single marital status where 45.8% (p value 0.009) booked late and lack of support from husband had prevalence of 45% (p value 0.015).

Conclusion: Late first antenatal clinic visit was 20% at Temeke district hospital, it’s less compared to most studies done in other parts of Tanzania and was highly associated with single marital status and lack of support from husband. Therefore, provision of continuous health education and community sensitization on the importance of husband support on matters concerning ANC also reproductive health to adolescents so as they may know they can avoid early and unneeded pregnancy.